Sowing the Seeds for Tomorrow: Our 2024-2027 Farm Strategy
Our New 2024-2027 Strategy: A Clear Path for the Future
We’re excited to share the details of our new 2024-2027 strategic plan, which outlines our direction and priorities for the next three years. This strategy isn’t just a set of goals on paper—it’s our roadmap for achieving meaningful growth and lasting impact in the years ahead.
So, what does this strategy include, and why is it so important?
A Clear Focus on Our Vision and Mission
At the heart of our strategy is a reminder of why we exist—our vision and mission. These guiding principles shape everything we do, and as part of this process, we’ve taken the time to carefully review and refine them. By doing so, we’ve ensured that our goals align with the evolving needs of our community and the broader challenges we face.
Key Priorities for the Next Three Years
Our strategy also lays out the key priorities that will drive our work. These are the areas we’ll focus on to create the greatest impact, whether it’s improving sustainability, enhancing community engagement, or increasing operational efficiency. These priorities will keep us on track and focused as we work towards achieving our bigger goals.
GROW - Increasing access to fresh, nutritious, and local food while reducing food waste through sustainable farming practices and community-based initiatives.
LEARN - Connecting people of all ages with food, farming, and nature by providing diverse educational opportunities
THRIVE - Connecting people and communities to promote personal growth, social connections, and improved wellbeing
SUSTAIN - Building strong partnerships and community networks to enhance community cohesion, organisational capacity, generate revenue, and support our long-term vision of an empowered, resilient, and healthy community.
Turning Vision into Action: How We’ll Get There
While the strategy provides the big picture, the specifics of how we’ll bring these aspirations to life will be outlined in our annual budgets and operational planning. These documents will give us clear targets, timelines, and budgets for each of our key initiatives, ensuring we stay accountable and make real progress year after year.
A Collaborative Approach
This strategy didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of thoughtful discussions and consultations with our staff, trustees, and key stakeholders. Together, we’ve worked to refine our theory of change—that is, how we plan to achieve long-term, meaningful impact. By gathering insights from those closest to our work, we’ve crafted a strategy that reflects both our collective aspirations and the realities on the ground.
Staying Relevant in a Changing World and Meeting Organisational Challenges
Finally, our strategy includes an analysis of the current operating context—which means we’ve carefully considered the broader challenges and opportunities in our industry and community. From economic shifts to environmental changes, we want to make sure our approach remains flexible and responsive to what’s happening in the world around us:
Funding Challenges and Strategies: Securing new funding sources and growing income generation are priorities as major grant support ends in 2025.
Balancing Public Access and Income: We aim to serve the community while increasing revenue through thoughtful use of site and resources.
Volunteer Group Management and Accountability: Enhancing feedback systems and participatory decision-making will strengthen our operations.
Planning Permission and Lease Extension: Renewing permissions and extending lease hours will unlock more income-generating opportunities.
Looking Ahead
This strategy isn’t just a plan—it’s our commitment to a better future. We’re excited to move forward with a clear focus, strong priorities, and a dedicated team working together to bring our vision to life. We look forward to sharing this journey with you, our community, and we’re ready to get started!
Please read our 2024-2027 strategy here.
